Shloka 12
Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)
यदि अपने वर्णोचित कर्ममें स्थित, शान्त और ज्ञान-विज्ञानसे तृप्त ब्राह्मणको किसी प्रकारके असत् कर्मका आश्रय लिये बिना ही धन प्राप्त हो जाय तो वह उस धनसे विवाह करके संतानकी उत्पत्ति करे अथवा उस धनको दान और यज्ञमें लगा दे। धनको बाँटकर ही भोगना चाहिये, ऐसा सत्पुरुषोंका कथन है ।।
pariniṣitakāryas tu svādhyāyenaiva brāhmaṇaḥ | kuryād anyan na vā kuryān maitro brāhmaṇa ucyate ||
Itinuro ni Bhishma: “Kung ang isang Brahmin na nananatili sa tungkuling angkop sa kanyang antas, payapa, at busog sa kaalaman at karunungan, ay magkamit ng yaman nang hindi umaasa sa masamang gawain, dapat niyang gamitin iyon upang mag-asawa at magkaanak, o kaya’y ilaan sa kawanggawa at sa paghahandog (yajña). Sabi ng mga banal: ang yaman ay dapat lamang tamasahin matapos maibahagi. At ang Brahmin na ganap nang nakatupad sa mga dapat niyang gawin ay nararapat masiyahan sa banal na pag-aaral (svādhyāya) lamang. Gawin man niya ang iba pang gawaing makamundo o hindi, ang Brahmin na mahinahon, di-nananakit, at may mabuting kalooban sa lahat ng nilalang ay tinatawag na ‘maitra’—kaibigan ng lahat.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
After fulfilling obligatory duties, a Brahmin should be grounded in svādhyāya (sacred study) and remain benevolent; optional actions are secondary, and true worth is measured by steadiness, learning, and friendliness (maitra) rather than by constant pursuit of external activity.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira about ideal conduct—here describing the mark of a mature Brahmin: one who has completed required rites and lives centered on study, with freedom either to act further or to refrain, while maintaining goodwill toward all.